Pictures: Archive pictures of Frida Rangel and Rubén Villicaña

Written by WENDY GUTIÉRREZ |MEXICO CITY CAMPUS
Original post in The news site of Tecnológico de Monterrey

With the song “Somos Más”, Frida Rangel and Rubén Villicaña have won first place worldwide in the Quarantunes Music Competition, a virtual event organized by the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU).

According to the organizers, the students from Tec de Monterrey’s Mexico City campus were given the prize for the song which revealed the positivity that is needed in these uncertain times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The composition won first place in the national ‘Songs of Peace and Hope’ competition organized by the Tec and tied for the title of global champion with the song “Get Down”, by students from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).

“This contest consists of composing songs that express the feelings we have experienced as students, during the pandemic, but also shows how we can inspire others through our song and strengthen the hope that a better future will come,” explained Frida.

The students mentioned that they felt very happy and fulfilled in getting first place.

“We’re very satisfied with all the work we did and the results that we got. But, mostly, we’re extremely grateful and inspired by all the support we’ve received,” declared the winners.

A SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT

Having reached first place in an international composition competition is a significant achievement, as it reaffirms that they are on the right track.

According to the songwriters, their participation in the contest inspired them to continue looking for similar opportunities, and to keep entering more contests.

“We want to make more music, and to improve more and more. We know that we still have a lot to learn and that excites us a lot,” said Frida, who’s studying Music Production.

The prize was a cash sum, which they intend to invest in equipment to improve the quality of their music, and thereby generate new knowledge and opportunities for themselves.

The Tec students received the invitation to participate in Quarantunes through the Leadership and Experience (LiFE) department on their campus and decided to compose a song with a positive message.

The LiFE program focuses on students’ development through sports, arts, leadership, and includes their nutritional, psychological and emotional well-being.  

Frida and Ruben shared that the Tec has greatly influenced both their lives and their professional careers.

“We’ve both been members of the Contemporary Music Ensemble on our campus, and participated in the National Song Festival, so we’ve acquired many skills and experiences that have influenced the path we want to take both in our careers and our lives.

“These experiences have deeply affected us. In fact, it was in the ensemble where we met and, thanks to that, we’ve achieved many things together”, they said.

The champions thanked the department of art and culture at the Mexico City campus for all the support they were given during the two weeks of the contest.

“We want to thank all the people who shared our video, and who were encouraging and supporting us. This wouldn’t have been possible without the support of all these people.

We especially want to thank our families, who never gave up. Really, thank you for helping us share our art. You’ve inspired us to keep going,” the winners concluded.

Listen to their song by clicking here.